New area of Science: Parapsychology! Real or pseudo?

Interview with Dr. A. Marion, Parapsychologist.

Posted by Richard Matthews on February 18th, 2012

Richard: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Dr. Marion.

Dr. Marion: You're welcome, thanks for having me.

Richard: So, I'll just jump straight in with the questions. Can you quickly explain, what is parapsychology?

Dr. Marion: [laughs] A good question. Parapsychology is usually incorrectly associated with paranormal investigators, or more commonly known as ghost hunters, which is hugely inaccurate. A parapsychologist does indeed investigate the paranormal, the hints in the name, but it is actually a very real science. We also investigate many other things, not just ghosts and spirits, including things like hypnosis and telepathy.

Richard: So, it's a real science, you're saying? Not a pseudo-science like astrology?

Dr. Marion: If you think of astrology as a science, then you are thinking about it in the wrong way. But yes, parapsychology is a real science. We conduct experiments just like many sciences. It's a branch of psychology at the end of the day.

Richard: So, you're saying that science has proven ghosts are real?

Dr. Marion: Absolutely not. I'm saying that a parapsychologist, like a normal psychologist, uses scientific methods to prove or disprove paranormal phenomena. Ghosts are just one of them. Unfortunately it's a relatively new science area and isn't respected enough in the population so research is still very new.

Richard: So, in other words, you've not found anything positive?

Dr. Marion: Again, absolutely not. It's just still a new area and more work needs to be done in it. There is a lot of promising research coming from the subject though.

Richard: Do you believe that they are real? Ghosts, I mean?

Dr. Marion: Does it matter if I believe or not? What if I was religious and believe in God? There are many scientists who are religious. But yes, I guess, in a way, I do believe. I wouldn't be a parapsychologist if I didn't [laughs]. But it's important not to let your own beliefs influence and affect your work, just like a psychologist shouldn't.

Richard: What's the scariest thing you've encountered?

Dr. Marion: Now, Richard, I think you are getting me confused with a paranormal investigator. I do not go out chasing ghosts. I'm a scientist, I sit in a lab and conduct experiments. And right at the moment I am researching... in basic terms, telepathy. Whether a human person can communicate telepathically... through the mind.

Richard: And can we?

Dr. Marion: There is strong evidence to suggest that is may be possible, but it is still early days to give you a definitive answer there as we haven't finished our own research.

Richard: I understand that the area is still quite new, but surely we'd have heard of some grown-breaking results by now?

Dr. Marion: Not necessarily. The Higgs Boson was first predicted to exist in the 1960s, it wasn't until 2012 that the scientists in Geneva finally observed a new particle that was consistent with the predictions. Just imagine if we had enough scientists in the field of parapsychology like particle physics does and more people were willing to invest time and money into research, what we might find?

Richard: Okay, so you're currently researching into telepathy, what other areas have you worked on and what areas do you plan to work on in the future?

Dr. Marion: Well, the team I work with have been researching telepathy for a while now, as well as a few other areas such as precognition and clairvoyance, but I, personally, hope to move into near-death experiences and reincarnation in the future. And yes, I am hoping to move into the more ghosts and spiritual world in the future too. [laughs]

Richard: If someone wanted to become a parapsychologist what would you say?

Dr. Marion: Well, firstly I would check out the Parapsychological Association, you can become a member and gain access to a lot of papers and The Journal of Parapsychology, and there is a section which lists universities that have parapsychology branches and may teach the subject either as a major, or more likely a minor. There are universities from Australia all the way to Argentina that teach parapsychology.

Richard: Any in the United Kingdom?

Dr. Marion: Absolutely. I studied right here in the UK. I gained a PhD at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit in Edinburgh and worked alongside other researchers here in London, at Goldsmiths.

Richard: Thank you for your time, Dr. Marion.

Dr. Marion: You're most welcome.

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And the weirdness begins! :D

As always, don't forget to vote if you like this chapter! Thank you! :)
~Penny